Permutation switch



Apr. 10, 1923.

R. FREDERICK PERMUTATION SWITCH Filed Dec. 6 1920 2 sheet s-sheet 1 Apr.10, 1923.

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Application filed December 6,1920. Serial No. 428,708.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that I, ROLAND FREDERICK, a citizen of the United States,residin at Fairmount, in the county of Grant and tate of Indiana, haveinvented new'and useful 1m rovements in Permutation Switches, of WhlChthe following is a specification.

This invention com rehends the provision of a combination lock andignition switch,

wherein use is made of a plurality of switch keys adapted to be insertedin predetermined openings in the switch to render the same perfect, theswitch being provided with a large number of openings of a size toaccommo ate the switch keys, thereby making it diflicult for anyoneother than the driver of the machine to close the circuit through theswitch.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of acombination lock and ignition switch designed to ermit a large number ofcombinations to effected by changing the positions of the terminals ofthe conducting wires, so that the combination can be changed from timeto time by the driver of the vehicle. I

Another object of the. invention resides in the provision of a device ofthe above mentioned character which is simple in construction so that itcan be manufactured and sold at a nominal cost, and readily applied toany make of vehicle. The nature and advantages of the invention willbebetter understood when the following detailed description is read inconnection with the acplication like numerals of reference indiparts inthe several-views and wherein Eigur 1 'is a plan view of the deviceform-- ing the subject matter of my invention.

igure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear plan View of the switch removed from the casing.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the outermost insulated member.

Figure 5 is a similar view of the companion insulated member with thebinding posts associated therewith.

Figure 6 is adetailed view ofone of the contacts.

F igure 7 is a view of one of the keys.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates a casing in which theswitch is ar ranged, the switch being held associated with the casing 10by means of fastening elements 11 which are equipped with nuts 12. Thecasing 10 may be secured on the dash board of the vehicle (not shown) inany suitable manner.

The switch proper comprises a pair of insulated members 14 and 15respectively which are of substantially rectangular formation andofequal dimensions, these members being held associated by'the fasteningelements 11 utilized to hold the switch positioned within the casing 10.The members 14'and 15 are further held in spaced relation by means ofnuts 16 carried by thefastening elements 11 and interposed between themembers 14 and 15. The member 14 supports a plurality of binding osts 17which are arranged in spaced parallel rows as shown, each binding postbeing equipped with a contact which is held positioned upon the bindinposts by the nuts 18. The contacts 19 or the two outermost rows ofbinding posts are of substantially L shaped formation, while thecontacts20 for the re maining rows of binding posts are of substantial Ushaped formation, so that the limbs 0 all the contacts of one row arespaced from the adjacent limbs of the contacts of the other .rows. Theinsulated member 14 is further provided with spaced parallel rows ofopenings 21 which correspond in number with the openings 22 of theinsulating member 15,the openings" 21 and'22 of the respective membersbeing disposed in alignment, withthe openings21of the member 14'arrangedin spaced parallel rows interposed-between the parallel rows ofv bindlngposts. The openings 22 of the insulatingmember, 15 are numbered as shownin Figure 1 so-that the driver of .the machine mayreadily operate theswitch by inserting a number of pointed keys such as is shown in Figure7 in the proper openings, it being understood that the combination lockmay be changed in a manner to be hereinafter described. There arepreferably three switch keys 25, in conjunction with this switch, andwhich keys must be insertedthrough circuit openings in the switch tocooperate with circuit contacts in order to complete the circuit throughthe switch.

As shown in Figure 2, the contact wire leading from. the battery isindicated at 27 31 has one terminal connected with the binding post Fand its opposite terminal connected with the binding post G which latteris arranged adjacent the binding post B. l/Vith the terminals of therespective wires connected with the binding posts above mentioned, thecombination to operate the switch in this particular instance areopenings 2, 3 and 9 through which the swltch keys must be inserted. Whenone of these keys is inserted through opening 2 in the 3 member 15 it ispassed through the corresponding opening of the member 14 and passesbetween the adjacent limbs of the contacts carried by the binding postsA and E respectively. When a second key is inserted through opening 3 inthe member 15 it is passed through the corresponding opening in themember 14 of the switch and between the limbs of the contacts carried bythe binding posts B and G respectively. The other key when inserted inthe opening 9 of the member 15 is passed through the correspondingopening of the member 14 and between the limbs of the contacts carriedby the bindin posts D and F respectively. Consequent y the current fromthe battery is conducted through wire 27 and through the binding posts Aand E, from where the current passed through the wire 80, to the bindingpost D, and from the latter mentioned binding post through the bindingost F, from where the current is conveye by the wire 31 from the bindingpost F to the 1 binding post G and then thru the switch and wire 28completing the circuit and renderin the switch operative for the purposeinten ed. Should the switch keys be inserted in any of the otheropenings except the openings 2, 3 and 9 the switch will be shorted orgrounded through the Wire 29. It is obvious that by connectingthe-terminals of the various wires with the different binding posts, thevarious combinations may be effected tooperate the switch.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature andadvantages of the invention will be readily understood, I desire to haveit known that I do not limit myself to whatis herein shown and describedand that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within thescope of what is claimed.

What I claim is I 1. A device of the class described comprising acasing, an insulated member located in said casing having a plurality ofopenings therein, asecond insulated member -located in the casingand'provided with a plurality of openings to correspond with theopenings in the first member, a plurality of binding posts extendingthrough the second member between said openings, a plurality of L-shapedcontacts surrounding the posts adjacent the edges of the second member,a plurality of U-shaped contacts surrounding theother posts extendinthrough said member and a plurality of pointed keys adapted to extendthrough the openings in said members and engaging said contacts.

2. A device of the class described comprising a casing having an openingtherein, an insulated member located in said casing adjacent to theopening and provided with a plurality of spaced parallel rows ofopenings and bearing suitable indicia above the openings, a secondinsulated member located in the casing and being provided with aplurality of openings corresponding with the openings in the firstmentioned member, securing elements extending through said members andsecured to the rear wall of said casing, spacing nuts surrounding saidelements between said members, a. plurality of binding posts extendingthrough the second member and terminating short of the rear wall of saidcasing, a plurality of L-shaped contacts surrounding the posts adjacentto the edges of the second member, a plurality of U-shaped contactssurrounding the other posts, and a plurality of pointed keys adapted toextend through'the openings in said members and engage said contacts;

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ROLAND FREDERICK.

